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Arvest Bank presented a donation to the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas in the amount of $500 that will support the food bank’s backpack program, and other backpack programs in the area that are supported by the food bank. Backpack programs provide supplemental food for school children on weekends and holidays, times when they may not have enough food at home to eat for every meal. The food bank’s backpack program provides food to more than 600 children in Baxter County alone.

Jeff Quick, CEO of the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, said every dollar that is donated translates to five meals for those in need. Last year the food bank provided 2.7 million meals to residents in North Central Arkansas.

The presentation was made at the Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Business After Hours networking event that Arvest sponsored and that was held at the bank’s branch on Hwy. 62 East.

To increase the awareness of food insecurity in communities nationwide, Arvest Bank market president Sally Gilbert pointed out to attendees that food would not be served at the event, for the purpose of helping attendees identify with those who face food insecurity on a daily basis.

“Imagine how you would feel if going without dinner, or any meal, was something you had to face – every day,” said Gilbert. “So many people have to make the tough choice between food and medicine, food and heating bills, or other choices that determine their ability to survive. Food insecurity is a problem that demands community involvement so those decisions between food and other necessities don’t have to be made.”

Gilbert said the donation is an early contribution toward two upcoming hunger awareness campaigns the bank will lead. The first is a one-day, grassroots awareness and fundraising effort called Feed the Pack Day, in which community volunteers will collect donations in Mountain Home, Flippin, Gassville and Yellville in support of the Food Bank of NCA’s backpack program and other backpack programs in the area that are supported by the food bank. Feed the Pack Day is April 27.

Feed the Pack Day is held in support of a second initiative to reduce hunger in local communities, Arvest Bank’s 8th Annual 1 Million Meals campaign that takes place April 2 to June 2 this year.

The bank-wide initiative encourages associates and communities to drop off nonperishable food items or monetary donations at any Arvest Bank location in a four-state area to help reduce food insecurity in the communities the bank serves. The goal is to collect the equivalent of one million meals collectively. Every donation stays local and benefits a community food partner.

Arvest Bank, named by Forbes magazine as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” for 2017, operates more than 250 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas through a group of 15 locally managed banks, each with its own board and management team. These banks serve customers in more than 120 communities, with extended weekday banking hours at many locations. Arvest also provides a wide range of banking services including loans, deposits, treasury management, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing. Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.

Investment products and services are provided by Arvest Investments, Inc., doing business as Arvest Asset Management, member FINRA/SIPC, an SEC registered investment adviser and a subsidiary of Arvest Bank. Trust services are provided by Arvest Bank. Insurance products are made available through Arvest Insurance, Inc., which is registered as an insurance agency. Insurance products are marketed through Arvest Insurance, Inc., but are underwritten by insurance companies.
Securities and Insurance Products: Not Insured by FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, May Lose Value, Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by a Bank or any Bank Affiliate.